Tahitian Stretch Bracelets

[alina]

Hi I really like PP's stretch bracelets. It looks like there aren't any knots between the pearls though. Wouldn't that damage the pearls? I thought the whole point of knotting pearls was to keep them separated so they don't chip and crack. Thoughts? Anyone have these or other pearl stretch bracelets and can share experience? Thanks! Ali

[Raisondetre]

I only have them in freshwater - they're the baroque ones which are 10-11mm. They don't seem to knock against each other, but I am afraid of the elastic snapping so I don't buy high grade pearls in those.

[alina]

I am thinking of trying to make my own with some less expensive pearls and knotting in between the pearls just to experiment. BTW do you get yours wet? Part of the reason I want stretch bracelets is to be able to wear on the beach and in the ocean.

[pattye]

I recall hearing awhile back that it was not good for the stretch material to be wet--so recommend doing a bit of research before using. Perhaps it has been improved by now. Powerpro would surely be safe to use and totally ok to get wet!

[MsT]

I have never had any luck with stretch material. It always breaks after just a few wearings (but it could be my technique).

[waimeamomi]

Tahitian pearls shouldn't chip or crack from rubbing or really they shouldn't. They can be scratched, but the reason pearls are knotted is so that if the strand breaks they all won't go flying!

[raj]

I've made several stretch tahitian pearl bracelets using Stretch Magic (1mm diameter). I've had them about a year and wear them constantly. Both the pearls and the cord are holding up well. I've restrung them a couple of times more from an abundance of caution than need as the cord looked fine, but since it takes only 5 minutes to do, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[pattye]

raj,

Are you wearing them in water?

[laurenb]

Ooh, I hadn't seen those. Is that what became of the remaining undrilled beader's special FW baroques?

[raj]

Pattye, only water contact is via handwashing, so I can't comment on how it will hold up to extensive contact with water. The cord is rubber like so I can't think why water would damage it, but I haven't seen any literature on the product addressing this issue.

A pix of bracelets, ~9+ months in (my memory of purchase date was a bit off :))
7096

[MsT]

Raj, those are fabulous!

[alina]

Raj, wow those look awesome! I guess the beads in between the pearls probably helps them from knocking against each other too. Mind if I ask where you got the pearls for the bracelet? They really are gorgeous!! Ali

[pattye]

Raj

The bracelets are just gorgeous! You must get lots of compliments!

[Pearly Shell]

Gorgeous! Absolutly gorgeous!!

[raj]

Thank you all for your compliments!
Ali, the bracelets are predominately made of loose pearls from PP.
A close up photo that turned out, focus wise.

[alina]

I didn't know PP sold loose pearls. Do you just call them up to order? How much do they charge? I called to ask them about unfinished Tahitian strand and they told me they don't sell that way. They were willing to send me the unfinished strand along with the clasp at same price as finished necklace. Ali

[laurenb]

They do sell loose pearls like this (http://www.pearlparadise.com/loosepearls.html), but you've probably seen that part of their site already.

[alina]

DOH! I had **not** seen that part of their website. Thanks for pointing out!! Are there other sources for loose Tahitian pearls like this that I've missed???

[Hanaleimom]

Alina,
Purepearls.com also carries loose, round pearls here: http://tiny.cc/loosepearls467

[imanit]

About two years ago I made some bracelets on stretch cord. I used lower quality pearls for them. I wear them while on vacation or while doing some crazy, not lady like activities.... I wear them often. Those bracelets never broke !!! My daughters wear often stretchy pearls bracelets I made for them... again none broke. But......Good pearls go on thread or wire... I wouldn't risk to have those bracelets break..

[katkashmir]

I recently restrung a necklace, into a double strand bracelet and a bracelet on to Elastic Stretch Cord. I love them. I wear them both much more than previously. I used Stretch Magic Cord. When I strung them I managed to lose the ends a couple and times and surprisingly the pearls didn't fly all over the place. http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/zippitydodawg/Stretch-BraceletA.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/zippitydodawg/Stretch-BraceletWEB.jpg

[GemGeek]

Very nice! ;)

[pattye]

Great bracelets! Am thinking I don't have nearly enough of them either-----------

[softnsunny]

I've been stringing elastic bracelets for years, and only after extensive wear do they come back in for repair. Elastic is so easy to wear, and many of my older customers live alone, and need something that they can put on easily. Which often translates as meaning "no clasp, or those magnetic things". Those magnetic things are a little unpredictable on bracelets, cos they get attached to supermarket trolleys, frig doors etc ...! The extensive wear is often bracelets worn 24/7, with all the chemical and physical abuse included! But for added security ... I begin or end the stringing at the bead with the largest hole, so that the knot snuggles inside the bead, if possible. Finish with a square knot, and dab with nail polish or any other glue apart from superglue (NO!) But all this you probably know already :rolleyes:...
And I love those bracelets above :)

[Island Bound]

Kat,those are gorgeous bracelets! How lovely!

Softnsunny, thank you for giving this newbie some very helpful hints and experience with elastic bracelets. I've been afraid of trying / wearing them but I am going to string some up and wear them to get more familiar with what works and the durability of them. It will help me be in a better position to design good looking, long lasting jewelry.

[laurenb]

. Finish with a square knot, and dab with nail polish or any other glue apart from superglue (NO!) But all this you probably know already :rolleyes:...
And I love those bracelets above :)

Why? I whipped up several stretchy experiments after seeing this thread, and used the superglue version of Vigor because that's what was handy. No ill effects yet. Does superglue cause damage to/hardening of the elastic?

[Hanaleimom]

What kind of elastic do you use? Can you specify brand, thickness or a link here? Thank you.

[pearlescence]

As I understand it superglue dries rigidly ...and you need a certain flexibility in the knot glue. (which is why it isn't optimal for silk knots either)

[pattye]

laurenb,

It will be good to know how they hold up, so keep us informed, please.

[laurenb]

Will do. Also left some without glue, no beads on the run so far...

[pattye]

Hum, "Beads On The Run", sounds like it could be a song-----------no, no, no---no haiku allowed!!

[boo]

Hum, "Beads On The Run", sounds like it could be a song-----------no, no, no---no haiku allowed!!


A little iambic pentameter, perhaps?

Alas the strand is parted at the knot
by traitor glue that doth not flex and curl
I bend toward the carpet in distress
to seek on hand and knee the furtive pearl

:D:D:D

[pattye]

OMG!! I am rolling on the floor! LOLOL!!

[raj]

Boo, oh how true!!

I used 1mm Stretch Magic for my tahitians, thinner diameters for smaller pearls like the silver akoya baroques.
I double knot, then melt the ends and tuck into a spacer bead.

[softnsunny]

Superglue often eats the elastic (yoicks) depending on the type of elastic you use, The lycra elastic especially dissolves into the glue (the flat fine very stretchy stuff often found in ready-made jewellery, also often multistranded). I find it is far safer to use a slower drying adhesive, and its much easier to keep the glue at the knot, not everywhere else al over the beads, or leaving pieces of you behind with the bracelet. Superglue does give a more rigid bond, and doesn't seem to last. I find my repairs are more successful with a slow curing adhesive, the ones that you mix the adhesive and hardener together. Jewellery seems to prefer just a little flexibility, maybe? Or the Hypo-cement for when you need that very fine needle dispenser ( and it takes the visually challenged me an extra 5 minutes to get the top back on, lol). I'm sorry that I don't have scientific reasons for this, I'm just relating my experience, and multiple experiments with different adhesives. And if my customers are d-i-y, then nail polish seems to be something they have at home somewhere, glue they often don't. (I don't get that, either, but so it goes!)

[laurenb]

Thanks for your reply! That makes sense, based on the melty/cracky plastic-superglue reactions one sees from time to time. I think I've not had any issues with the superglue because I only put it on the knot (using Vigor's pushpin top), but I wouldn't want to rely on replicating that technique. :)

I'm finding that Stretch Magic knots hold quite well without glue. Also have some Hypo I can try... I know Stretch Magic can be (gently) crimped after the knot. Might be worth a try, to get away from glue entirely.

Lots of stretchy bracelet pages out there recommending super glue! :eek:

[pearlescence]

Here is a weird one - the needle fine tube on my hypo cement has broken off. It broke off, but I am still using the cement (half a tube left!) so then I put the needle bung back in the big hole and the tube stuck back on!
I've had the bung come off the cap too.
And watch when you finish a tube and roll it up to squash it and squeeze out the last bits. If you put the cap back on then it can poke right on down through the needle tube and out of the body of the tube so that glue leaks everywhere.
It's great stuff, but tricky!

[GemGeek]

I must chime in here. I love the hypo-cement too. I think the bit of flexibility gives its bonds staying power. I end up wasting some or wearing it, but its still my favorite. ;)

[Hanaleimom]

I talked to the stringer at Tahiti Pearl Market about stretch bracelets. He said he has been using Zap-A-Gap for a few years. He showed me the bottle and, from memory, the lettering looks like this one. There are green and pink versions on the internet. I haven't had time to research the difference but I think he uses the green label.
http://www.amazon.com/Zap-A-Gap-1-2oz/dp/B0006JLLB2

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0001158310684a.shtml

http://www.supergluecorp.com/zap/zap-glues/zap-gap

I also examined the stretch bracelets that he did. He hid the knot inside one pearl which has a larger drill hole on one side only. The other drill hole is the same size as the rest.

[softnsunny]

Hey,I love the idea of the bead with a larger hole one side to tuck the knot in ...

[Hanaleimom]

I've found out recently that Beadalon has a product named Elasticity http://www.beadalon.com/elastic.asp.

It comes in clear color. For Tahitian pearls, I would think the drill hole has to be .9mm to be used with .8mm cord diameter. It's thick and therefore stretches less than Stretch Magic .5mm (which I doubled and knotted b/t pearls). I would think there is no need to knot in b/t pearls if you use Elasticity, or maybe knot every few pearls (to prevent pearls popping on the floor should the elastic snaps).

[Hanaleimom]

I am wearing 5 bracelets today, not just Tahitian stretch bracelets, but also metallic FW bracelets. The pearls from oval FW bracelet are from Jeremy's bag here http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/freshwater-pearls/4521-guy-has-goods.html.

Drop Tahitian stretch bracelet pearls were hand-picked by my husband when we were at the 2010 ruckus, post # 157 http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/pearling-industry-news/4253-pearl-guide-ruckus-2010-a-11.html

Near round Tahitian bracelet is from Tahiti Pearl Market. Two small round FW bracelets are from PP. I bought a necklace and split them to make bracelets.

Pictures taken with my Samsung cell phone, not best quality to showcase the pearls.

In real life, the oval metallic FW pearls mesmerize me. Some pearls have multiple colors, peachy in the middle, green on the end and pink on other end when I twist my wrist.

I like wearing bracelets better than necklaces because I get to see those pearls glimmer in front of me by the keyboard, almost all day at work. :D

[pattye]

Cathy,

Now there's an armful of gorgeous!! The fw and Tahitians look terrific together! Thanks for the stringing tips also!

[Hanaleimom]

Thanks, Pattye. I was trying to achieve this look, wrist only.

[LBoone]

I use Hypo cement on the knots on mine. I have made bead bracelets on Stretch Magic for quite a while, and not had any problems. And I have at least one with HEAVY agate beads on it. The only issue I have had is on a double strand bracelet where one strand appears to have grown a little. It snaps right back to the normal length if I stretch it and let it "snap" back though, so I'm thinking it is catching on something inside the bead hole.

[lilliefuzzysocks]

Raj, What MM size pearls did you use in the bracelets?

[CLICLASP]

What about glueing the ending with clear nail polish, both for stretch and silk ?